Exercise

Comparative Adjectives

Positive Form

Use the positive form of the adjective if the comparison contains one of the following expressions:

as … as

Example: Jane is as tall as John.

not as … as / not so … as

Example: John is not as tall as Arnie.

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (-er/-est)

 one-syllable adjectives (clean, new, cheap)
 two-syllable adjectives ending in -y or -er (easy, happy, pretty, dirty, clever)

positive
comparative form superlative form
form

clean cleaner (the) cleanest

Exceptions in spelling when adding -er / -est

 silent ‘e’ is dropped
Example: late-later-latest

 final ‘y’ after a consonant becomes i

Example: easy-easier-easiest

 final consonant after short, stressed vowel is doubled

Example: hot-hotter-hottest

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (more/most)

 adjectives of three or more syllables (and two-syllable adjectives not ending in -y/-er)

positive
comparative form superlative form
form

difficult more difficult most difficult

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (irregular comparisons)

positive form comparative form superlative form

good better best

bad / ill worse worst

little (amount) less least

little (size) smaller smallest

much / many more most

far (place + time) further furthest

far (place) farther farthest

late (time) later latest

late (order) latter last

near (place) nearer nearest

near (order) - next

old (people and things) older oldest

old (people) elder eldest

Exercise on comparative adjectives

Fill in the correct form of the words in brackets (comparative or superlative).

1. My house is (big) bigger than yours.

2. This flower is (beautiful) than that one.

3. This is the (interesting) book I have ever read.

4. Non-smokers usually live (long) than smokers.

5. Which is the (dangerous) animal in the world?

6. A holiday by the sea is (good) than a holiday in the mountains.

7. It is strange but often a coke is (expensive) than a beer.

8. Who is the (rich) woman on earth?

9. The weather this summer is even (bad) than last summer.

10. He was the (clever) _ thief of all.

Exercise on comparative adjectives (as ... as)

Fill in the comparison with as ... as.

1. John is (tall) as tall as Glen.

2. Janet is (beautiful) Jenifer.

3. You are (crazy) my sister.

4. We can run (fast) they can.

5. My mom is (not / strict) your mum.

6. Your mobile phone is (not / trendy) mine.

7. Matrix II was (not / interesting) Matrix I.

8. This yoghurt (not / taste / good) the one I bought yesterday.

9. I can do (many / press-ups) you.

10. I (not / earn / much / money) you do.

Positive, Comparative and Superlative Forms of Adjectives

With the positive, comparative and superlative forms of adjectives you can express that something
is for example as good as something else (positive form), better (comparative form)
or best (superlative form). For further information check out our grammar section: Positive,
Comparative and Superlative Forms of Adjectives.
Fill in the correct form of the following adjectives.

1. London is the (large) city in Great Britain.

2. No other British city has as (many) inhabitants as London.
3. The London underground, the tube, is the (old) underground in the world.
4. The Tower of London is one of the (famous) London sights.
5. Another sight is the London Eye. With its 135 metres, it is (tall) than any other big
wheel in the world.